As noted here yesterday, pro wrestling programs aren’t listed in The Daily Beast’s ranking of the 22 most dangerous shows on television.

Tell that to the parents, widow, two daughters, and stepson of World Wrestling Entertainment’s Lance McNaught (“Lance Cade”).

In October 2008, on WWE’s Raw, McNaught was beaten down with more than a dozen steel chair shots by fellow wrestler Shawn Michaels — one of them flush on the skull. Shortly thereafter, McNaught had a seizure on an airplane from a bad reaction to high doses of painkillers. During the same period, WWE collected $315 from an Internet auction of the Michaels-autographed chair used to attack McNaught. Early in 2010, McNaught completed a WWE-sponsored drug rehabilitation program. In the spring, the company released him. In August, he died at 29 of “heart failure.”

Connecticut’s Senator-elect Richard Blumenthal, who two weeks ago defeated WWE centimillionaire Linda McMahon for the seat he will take in January, has promised to follow up on investigations of the wrestling industry. As well as he should. The Lance Cade story was, arguably, the turning point of the campaign – whether or not wrestling shows make The Daily Beast’s bogus “most dangerous” list.

It makes me shake my head at Mick Foley for giving props to Vince after Vince suggested Mick take some time off after mick began complaining of equilibrium problems as a result of the Hell in the cell bump off the top of the cage against taker! Gee whiz thanks Vince for trying to bring me back to life after I almost killed myself for your entertainment! Wasn’t aware of the auctioning off of the chair used by Michaels on lance, but I’m not shocked! What does upset me and I’m sure michael’s couldn’t be pleased, was that McNaught was a student of michael’s. No way am I laying this on Michaels, but WWE is always profiting off these guys but when tragedy occurs, they’re quick to distance themselves or dance around the issue. All it does is strengthen my resolve to see WWE go before a congressional investigative panel to finally hold them accountable.